Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State says the Federal Government’s order for the purchase 20,000 Aba made overall kits for N-Power volunteer trainees nationwide, is a morale booster for SMEs.
The governor stated this in an interview with newsmen on inspection of Aba skills acquisition centre and some of the tailors sowing the kits.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports the newsmen were in Aba with officials of the N-Power to assess the progress of the sewing job and training of the N-Build volunteers.
The governor, who thanked the Federal Government for ordering the production of the kits, said it was in line with the quest to support home-made goods.
He said the decision was also in adherence to the Executive Order of the Government to Ministries, Departments and Agencies to source their materials locally.
Ikpeazu said it was not the first time the Federal Government would purchase made-in-Aba goods.
He recalled that in 2017, the President Muhammadu Buhari’ administration purchased about 50,000 military booths that were made in Aba.
The government commended the industry of his people and called for government’s support to boost their potentials.
Ikpeazu said: “Our greatest asset lies in our people; our people are people of great potential, especially when it comes to being able to do things with our hands.
“I am proud to say that our people here in Abia really do not need much to be self-sufficient.
“If we provide some power and enabling environment you can be sure that most people here will be self-sufficient and even employ people.”
The governor said there is an industrial cluster in Aba, where 70 per cent of singlet, boxers, inner wears being used in Africa are produced.
Ikpeazu said in order to improve on the quality of the Aba products and make it competitive, his government sent 30 people to China for capacity building on shoe making.
He thanked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for championing the buy Nigeria initiative.
“We are very happy with the office of the Vice President for his hand-strong strategy because you cannot build castles in the air.
“You must locate your castles on solid foundations especially on foundation that has been prepared such as the Abia entrepreneurial ecosystem is providing.”